If you are planning a move but don’t want to deal with the stress of do-it-yourself packing and moving, you will want to hire a professional moving company to do the job for you. So, you’re probably wondering “do movers pack for you?” Many moving companies offer packing services in addition to transportation, which can cut down on a lot of work for you.  If you choose to go with a company that offers this service, here are a couple tips for making sure the process goes smoothly.

First, you will want to make sure that all of the perishable items in your home have been removed, including the trash in your trash cans.  You wouldn’t want to arrive at your new house to find a refrigerator full of rotten food!  You should also remove any dangerous items like gasoline, ammunition, weapons, fireworks, or propane as most movers are not legally able to transport such things.  Once those things are taken care of, consider any items that you will need in the immediate future or that you want to keep well organized in a particular way.  This could include medicine, personal files, keys, important paperwork, checkbooks, and cell phones.  Anything you leave will be packed away and inaccessible for a while and may get mixed up in a box with many other items, so don’t forget anything you need in the near future.  Don’t worry about emptying drawers or dressers, the movers will shrink wrap everything closed and move it all together so you don’t need to pull all the clothes or miscellaneous items out. You should also be aware that most movers will not go up into attics for insurance reasons, so you will need to bring anything you want packed down into the main house.

There are likely some irreplaceable items that you will want to take care of personally, rather than risk having them delayed or lost by the movers, like valuable jewelry, heirlooms, or photos.  An important thing to remember is that the movers will not be liable for anything you pack up yourself.  That means that they will not responsible for any damage that might occur to it while in transit.  You might want to designate a closet to put all items you packed yourself or items you do not want the movers to pack up. Leave a sign by the closet to let movers know to leave it alone.  After this is all taken care of, you should be ready to let the movers take over and make the move into your new home.

TalkLocal can help you find high quality movers in your area in minutes.

King size beds can be a hassle to move, but it is still manageable with the help of one or two people. There are a few steps you should know on how to move a king size bed. Before you begin, make sure the pathways in your home are cleared of obstructions so you can move the bed in one swift trip.

Once the area is cleared, you can move either the mattress or the box spring first. If you move the mattress first, you can do more trial and error to figure out the best moving method because it is more pliable. On the other hand, the box spring is lighter and may be easier to handle. Most king size beds are 80 inches by 76 inches, while doorways are about 80 inches in height. You shouldn’t have trouble fitting it through the door, but if you do, just tilt the mattress at an angle. A more common problem is fitting around tight corners or winding staircases. Be sure to plan a few steps ahead for how you will maneuver the mattress so you don’t have to back track—or even worse, dislodge a stuck mattress.

Next, you want to take apart the bed frame. If you still have the construction manual, use it to correctly disassemble the frame. If you have a storage frame, remove the contents of the drawers, and then the drawers themselves. Once the storage frame is transported to the moving van, replace the drawers to give the frame support. Be sure to wrap the pieces of the bed frame in blankets to prevent wooden frames from getting chipped or to prevent metal frames from scratching other objects.

When you get to your new house, unload the bed frame first and before unloading the mattress or box spring. Unwrap the blankets when you get to the actual room you will be setting up in—you wouldn’t want to mark up your new house before even moving in. Reassemble the bed frame, then bring in the box spring and mattress, respectively.

If you are short on help, contact a moving company to help you move your king size bed. TalkLocal can connect you to reliable local businesses that can meet you when you need it. Just go to the TalkLocal website and tell them your service need, location, and availability. Within minutes, you’ll receive up to three calls from local moving businesses that meet your needs.

Are you planning to move and wondering what you should do about moving your precious plants to your new home? How will you find a mover that will be willing to move your plants? Read on for tips on moving with plants.

Check State Laws

If you are moving to a new state, you need to check the laws for the state where the plants will be relocated. Some states, such as California, Florida, and Arizona, have laws against bringing certain plants across the border and guidelines for how to properly sterilize your plants before bringing them.

Transplant Plants in Plastic Containers

Clay and glass pots are fragile and you don’t want them to break during the move. Plastic containers are good temporary containers for transporting plants with breakable pots. Make sure to transplant your plant into a container of approximately the same size as the one your plant was previously in, as a change in pot size can be shocking for the plant.

Sterilize Your Plants Before Moving

Make sure to kill any bugs, mildew, and diseases that your plant may have before moving so you don’t transfer these things to your new home. Bug bombs, bug power, and pet flea collars can all be useful for sterilizing your plants. You can also research remedies for any specific problems that your plants may have. If you cannot cure something before moving day, leave that plant behind.

Prune Your Plants Before Moving

Prune your plants to keep them more compact for moving. Pruning will also make them more attractive looking. You can prune by pinching back newer growth with your thumb and forefinger. Remember not to prune succulents and ferns because they do not respond well.

Water Your Plants Normally Before Moving

Even if you anticipate warmer temperatures in the area you are moving to, you should still water your plants as you normally do. If you overwater your plants, they could contract a fungus (warm weather) or freeze (cold weather).

Find a Mover That Will Move Your Plants

Some movers may be unwilling to move your plants because they are perishable items–particularly if you are moving more than 150 miles–so you should make sure ahead of time that you find a mover who can accomodate your plants. With the help of TalkLocal, you can find local movers within minutes. TalkLocal matches you with movers who can meet your specific need, so you dont have to waste time finding help move your plants to your new home.

Moving can be a back-breaking process. Everything needs to be planned accordingly so moving day will run smoothly. The moving day is the critical part of the move as it can make the move easy or excruciating. There are various considerations when choosing what is the best day to move into a new home.

Considerations

1. Season

Summer would be the best time to move if you have children who are out of school and can help you. Also, friends would be more likely to be free in the summer to help with the move. However, this is where most of moving takes place in the United States. Rates of moving companies and traffic will be at their peak at this time. Moving at between late fall to early spring would be an ideal if there are no time constraints and no children.

2. Weather

Spring or late fall would be an ideal time to move in regard to weather.  In the summer, there is a risk of becoming overheated or having a heat stroke during the move. Winter would also be a difficult time to move due to icy roads and difficulty in moving items through the snow into the new house or apartment. Severe damage to items can occur during extreme changes in climate when moving. Also, there is more risk of injury in the winter due to snow, ice, and limited muscle movement due to the cold.

3. Time of the week

Mondays through Thursday are some of the best days to move. Once again, rates of the moving companies and traffic are high during the weekend. A moving company has fewer movers on the weekends due to these companies being busier on these days. Sometimes moving companies are not open on Sundays. However, friends and family would be likely free to help move on the weekends.

These considerations can give you an idea of an ideal moving day.  Consider TalkLocal Moving & Storage for high quality moving professionals.

Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, you may want to consider renting your own moving truck rather than the more expensive option of hiring a moving company to do the work for you. If you do opt for the former, often the biggest deciding factor is price: price of the truck rental itself, boxes and other moving materials, insurance, and moving per mile of travel.  Check out this article to learn about the best moving truck prices.

If you’re not sure of which moving company has the most affordable prices, here’s what you can do to evaluate all your options:

– Before calling different companies, figure out a list of what you’re moving and the number of boxes you think you’ll need.

– Figure out the location and the approximate number of miles your trip will be.

– Approximate the number of days you’ll need the truck rental.

– Decide if you want to purchase insurance for the moving truck and your valuables.

– Decide if you will need a car carrier or dolly.

– Make a list of companies to call (popular truck rental companies include U-Haul, Budget and Penske).

The next step is to individually call each of the companies on your list and ask them the approximate prices based on the above information. You can then evaluate and compare your quotes, and finally make a decision on which company to rent from. This review site gives an effective comparison of major moving companies in several categories relating to the moving process.

If you want someone else to do all the work for you, try TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable moving companies in your area, within minutes. TalkLocal uses online ratings and reviews, social reputation, and call analytics to find you the perfect company for your job. Simply enter in your problem, location and availability, and TalkLocal will contact multiple movers who will then call YOU directly, ready to help start your moving process.

If you are moving from the US to Canada, it is important to find a moving company that specializes in cross-border moving. Some U.S. companies to consider are Allied Van Lines, United Van Lines, and Mayflower. International movers such as Gateways and Orbit also specialize in moving large amounts across borders.  It is important to compare prices of moving companies from US to Canada when making a decision.

Before you call the moving company, decide whether you want to pack your belongings yourself or have the movers do it. Also, check your insurance policy to see whether moving is covered.

Contact the moving company and tell them what Canadian city you are moving to, as well as your scheduled moving dates. Schedule an appointment with the moving company to survey your belongings and provide you with an estimate cost. The cost will vary based on the weight of your items and the services provided by the company.

Create a written inventory of all items that will cross the border. Upon entry into Canada, the movers will have to provide two detailed lists. Write down all electronic serial numbers and include receipts of recently bought items. The list will also help you keep track of everything that is being moved. Contact your movers for information about required paperwork.

If you need help finding a moving company for your move from the US to Canada, TalkLocal will connect you to a reliable moving company in minutes! Just type in your service need, your location, and when you need to move. By including the specific need about crossing into Canada, TalkLocal can filter out moving companies that can’t provide that service. This way, only moving companies that can help you will call you back!

Sometimes moving an office is more stressful than moving a household. Preparing for the move is key to ensuring that everything on your list is complete. Use this office move checklist as a guide to keeping things on track!

Planning

– Determine a time frame and moving schedule.

– Make a list of tasks and assign tasks to employees. Remember to set up a moving committee to help organize the transportation of items.

– Set up a communications plan to let customers, suppliers, and other important parties know about the move. Contact current service providers to inform them of the move. Make sure that new providers are aware of installation dates, including telephone lines, fax, Internet access, postal service, etc.

– Determine the new office set-up and look.

Packing

– Purchase packing supplies, including appropriate boxes.

– Provide packing instructions to employees or professional packers. Make sure boxes are properly labeled with office location, importance, and content.

– Prepare furniture for moving and label each piece so it will be moved to the correct area of the new space.

– Properly prepare equipment for moving. This includes removing any liquids and ensuring removable parts are packed and labeled. Make sure items that you will need in the near future are still easily accessible.

Moving

– Get moving quotes from companies. Use TalkLocal to find moving companies immediately. TalkLocal will compare them for you and find a local, high-rated moving company that is available when you are.

– Book special technical assistance ahead of time to move and install important equipment such as a photocopier, computer network, or specially telephone service.

– Find out in advance where the moving truck can park to load at the old office location and where it can unload at the new location. Inform surrounding businesses of your move and if you’ll be blocking entrances or taking additional parking spaces.

So you’re moving and its it is a huge life changing event.  You need to estimate size of moving truck needed to get everything to your destination.  Picking up and completely changing your surroundings is no easy task.  On top of figuring out what you need to bring, you have to actually think of the logistics of moving. Estimating the size of moving truck you will need is not a precise science, but there a few tricks you can learn from veteran movers.

The first step you will need to take is to figure out what you will need to move in the truck.  This will include all furniture, large decoration pieces, and boxes of items.  When taking inventory you should consider downsizing and getting rid of things that are not entirely necessary.  When trying to estimate what size of a moving truck you will need you should know exactly what you need to move. Declutter your life so you don’t pay to move things you don’t need.

Once you have considered everything you need to move, you can start determining the size of truck you need.  You should not be too conservative when coming up with a truck size because if your truck is too small then making an extra trip can be way more expensive than just getting a larger truck.  The service fee and gas charge will increase twofold for both local and long distance moves.  Find a happy medium that prevents two trips or wasted truck space.  Try to condense your things and find the best way to organize them so they take up the least amount of space.

The general rule when moving is that you need to allow about 150 cubic feet of space in the truck for each fully furnished room.  Here is a guideline to general sizing:

Truck Size

   Cubic Feet

Bedrooms

10 foot

350 cu. ft.

1 small room

15 foot

750 cu. ft.

2 rooms

20 foot

1,250 cu. ft.

3-4 rooms

25 foot

1,550 cu. ft.

5-8 rooms

Once you know what size truck you are looking for you should make your reservation.  You will need the moving date, size needed, a credit card, and your destination.  If you are looking for a reliable local moving company use TalkLocal to be put in contact with one in minutes.  Simply enter the information about your move into the service form online and TalkLocal will do the rest.  After submitting, you’ll receive a call someone who can help you move on the phone.

Congratulations! You made it through high school and you’re getting ready to start college, arguably the best four years of your life. While you’re wrapping up your summer and anxiously awaiting the start of the school year, keep in mind the most important things you need to do to get ready for your move-in date.  Here is what you will need when moving to college checklist:

1. Find a roommate—if you have not already done this, make sure your roommate situation is all sorted out. Whether you’re requesting a roommate you already know or being randomly assigned, make sure you connect with him or her and sort out who’s bringing what. In addition to this, learn a little bit about each other to make the whole process much easier.

2. Go shopping—the list is endless, but make sure to get things in each of these eight major categories:

Clothing—casual clothes, dress clothes, extra socks, underwear, etc.

Toiletries—shampoo & conditioner, lotions, razors, toothbrush & toothpaste, and don’t forget a shower caddy and extra towels!

First Aid—Band-Aids, Advil, vitamins, hand sanitizer…stock up on it all.

Electronics—find out the rules of appliances such as microwaves and coffee makers. Don’t forget about lamps, fans, power strips, and extension cords.

Extra furniture—if you have room, bring an extra chair for visitors or a bedside table for more storage room.

Decorations—be creative! You and your roommate can choose to decorate your room however you’d like. Print out some pictures of family and friends to hang and get a poster to brighten things up.

Food—stock up on your favorite snacks in case you get hungry when pulling an all-nighter and the dining hall is closed.

School supplies—laptop, notebooks & folders, pens & pencils, etc.

3. Take care of any last-minute things—if you still need to sort out your schedule, parking, your meal plan or anything else, take care of this now so you can spend less time worrying about it when you get there and more time having fun.

Once all of these things are taken care of, you’re ready to go! Make sure you go over the list a few times to make sure you’re not missing anything, and make an additional list of extra things to get if needed. If you need to contact a moving service last minute, TalkLocal can connect you to a local moving service in minutes!

Moving into a new place can be a stressful experience, especially when everyday essentials are not available within arm’s reach. Before moving, consult this checklist for essentials for moving into a new house – and make sure they are easily accessible after the move.

Food & Drink

– Water – Often times, water is not drinkable when you first move in. Bring water bottles or use a Brita filter so that you can easily filter the water.

– Dried snacks – These don’t require refrigeration and can be enjoyed on the go.

– Food basics – Bread, peanut butter, apples, nuts, crackers, granola, yogurt, milk, etc.

– Cups

– Sippy cups/bottles – For kids and babies

– Paper plates and bowls – It’s nice not having to worry about breaking or washing dishes after a big move.

– Utensils

– Napkins

Everyday Necessities

– Make sure to pack your flashlights, keys, and cell phones in a box that is kept close to you. The last thing you need is to dig toward the back of the moving truck to get these necessities.

– Flashlights

– Keys

– Cell phones

– Light bulbs

– Toilet paper

Cleaning Supplies

– Cleaning may not be the most fun thing to do in your new house, but tidying up before the furniture is is – unpacked will be much easier.

– Paper towels

– All-purpose cleaner

– Glass cleaner

– Floor cleaner

– Bucket

– Sponges

– Broom

– Dustpan

– Basic towels

Nighttime necessities

– Bedding – Pillows, blankets, a mattress, etc. If the bed is not available, make sure to bring a sleeping bag for the first night.

– Curtains – So you don’t wake up at the crack of dawn

– Pajamas

– Favorite toys and books for the kids

– Night lights for the kids (if needed)

– One hand towel per bathroom

– One bath towel per person

– Basic toiletries – toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.

If you need help finding a moving service, TalkLocal can connect you with a reliable moving service in your area in minutes.